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The roof argument collapses

I am writing this letter as a wake up call to all of the people who were behind the sledge hockey arena.

I am writing this letter as a wake up call to all of the people who were behind the sledge hockey arena.

Until VANOC finally came in and pulled the plug because of the dawdling of our present council, were we not looking at $20 million from VANOC as support for the project? And wasn't the highest priced plan in the vicinity of $63 million?

Then could someone please tell me how the $58 million Iconic Tree Park with the frozen birdbath is a better deal! This was the announcement that council made at Monday's meeting, (provisional upon receiving funding from an outside source).

As a legacy, the arena would have served Whistler in a much more sustainable fashion, generating revenues from shows and events, and would have stood as a reminder of the 2010 Olympics for years to come.

You can rest assured that VANOC would still have been forthcoming with funding for a medal presentation plaza for the events being held in Whistler, and as a result, we would have been twice blessed, having both an indoor and outdoor legacy of the Games.

I hope the kids in the hall get a group rate at physio, because with all of that self-congratulatory backslapping, I'm sure there are going to be some sore shoulders in the morning.

Bill Overing

Whistler

Is anyone looking in the mirror?

Whistler exists because of the stunningly beautiful environment that surrounds us: the mountains, the rivers, the forests — these are the things that drew us here, and that bring the visitors back.

They are the raw material of our very existence, these mountains, rivers and forests. Forests like the one on Lot 1/9 that we are about to clear cut in order to build a medal plaza for the Olympics.

We are going to clear cut a forest in the very heart of our community so that when the world is watching we will get better photo op's of our "product" — our so-called model of green sustainablility.

We are about to become the kind of community that clear cuts a forest for a marketing opportunity.

Is anyone looking in the mirror?

Van Powel

Whistler

Making a big impression

One incredible huge “Thank You” goes out to Grant Lamont. A Chinese delegation of journalists came to Whistler last Friday. Representing Whistler for the Disabled, I was asked by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada to hold a press conference for our honored guests visiting from China.

We started the press conference off by thanking them for visiting Whistler and Canada and introducing ourselves. We then told them how and why I created Whistler for the Disabled and accomplished so much on my own, without funding but with the passionate support of good friends dedicated to helping others out and supporting the Whistler and disabled communities.

Some of the items that were discussed and brought up in the hour-long press conference that I would like to share with everyone:

1. Inclusively and how important it is for people with disabilities to show what they can do.

2. Planning must incorporate people with disabilities into initial planning and not just in band-aids and hand-outs.

3. Spiritual value of the acceptance and inclusion and the healing value it has.

4. Transportation and access in a community and the many good things that Whistler is now trying to do.

5. Economic benefits with many people traveling to destinations that embrace and consider those with disabilities who they are with.

6. Why Whistler and Beijing, along with the rest of the world, need to make sure that there is follow through from the Games and not just let it ride once the spotlight is off.

They asked Grant how much he makes by helping me or if he is volunteering. Grant responded: “I am here as a friend and supporter. It is funny how our society has so much money for sports stadiums and ski jumps but little time for the things that really matter. Hopefully the work Hugh is doing can influence a small degree of change in these attitudes. I know it has with many and with one corporation already benefiting the Whistler Resort community and people with disabilities.”

The delegation thanked us for our time and efforts but were perplexed how one person could do so much with so little support.

They were honoured to meet us and we were honoured to meet them as well. They were all so respectful of everyone; it was nice to see.

Media coverage in China from just one of the journalist’s newspapers is more than 200 million people. There were seven journalists from China in attendance.

Grant Lamont was truly incredible in this press conference with such a large, important delegation. He was as professional as someone who was being paid six figures a year to host such an important information session — but he did it on his own time and expense.

A huge “Thank You” goes out to Grant for helping me out once again.  You came through for our community and for the disabled like so many others have for me over the years, time and time again.

Hugh Tollett

Whistler for the Disabled

Vancouver/Whistler

Karma warning

This is to the klepto who came into my workplace on Tuesday, March 18 between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and decided to walk out with my digital camera in their sticky little hands.

To you, the silver Kodak EasyShare 5.0 megapixel camera with its black sunshade/lens adapter is just a fun new toy, but to me it was the ticket to my future career. Without that camera I can no longer properly partake in my photography course, being that it is hard to complete a course in taking pictures when the device for doing so is no longer in my possession.

Though I do hope you are enjoying the pictures of my buddies, my cats playing and my friends’ 17-month-old daughter, can you please give me my camera back? Just bring it in to Splitz Grill, you know where it is, and hand it to anyone that works there, no questions asked.

If you don't feel the need to return it, just think hard on the fact that Karma works in mysterious ways and what you put unto others comes back threefold upon you.

Lani Davey

Whistler

Update on Colin Law Memorial

As it has been three months since my brother was killed in a car accident it has occurred to me that Colin’s family has not expressed our thanks and gratitude to everyone who gave of their time, money and hearts to raising money for Loki’s care.

It has been a very difficult few months. Christmas was very hard and Jan. 26th would have been Colins’s 37th birthday.

The amazing part of grief is how you can be coping one minute and then transported back in time the next to discover you are not really coping at all.

I cannot list all the people and businesses that contributed to making the Colin Law memorial fundraiser such a success. I can tell you that I was overwhelmed by the love and support shown for my brother from his friends and the community of Whistler, as well as the great folks at Bonitas and Baru.

Ali reports that Loki is doing well. His surgery was a success and he has made a complete recovery. He is able to run, play and do all the doggy things he did before the accident.

Ali is contributing the unused monies to KR for Playground Builders. Somewhere in the world, a playground will be built for disadvantaged children due to your contributions. I cannot think of anything that would have made my brother happier (well maybe beer).

Tim, Rob, KR, Scott and Adele, Brendan and so many others, thank you for being such a great friends to my brother. I know we all miss him so much.

Aurelle Law, the Law family and Ali Connell

Kelowna

PVTA on the move

If you missed the Pemberton Valley Trails Association’s   sixth Annual General Meeting held this week, you’ll want to pick up a copy of the Annual Review of Activities at the library, the BikeCo, or village office or watch for it on the website www.pembertontrails.ca .

We heard that this year, the PVTA’s board of directors had much to deal with and special thanks go to long time Chair Rod McLeod for keeping PVTA on the course of our mission statement, “To develop and maintain an interconnected network of multiuse trails and green spaces within the Pemberton Valley.”

The highlight of the meeting was John Hawking’s, (Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts) slideshow and report on the Recreation Trails Strategy for British Columbia. Check the Trails Strategy Website for details: www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/sites_trails/managing/recreation_trails_strategy.htm .

There is much activity in the works for trails in B.C. and Pemberton is poised to take advantage of the support the province is proposing. Be a part of it!

If you use Pemberton trails, renew your annual memberships, either at the BikeCo or download from the website and mail to Box 282, Pemberton. $10 per year or $25 for a family membership gets you a trail map for only $5 too! Watch for an upcoming public meeting for the new Trails Master Plan presently being put together, spring trails maintenance days, opportunities to help out at the Mosquito Lake Rec. Site and plan to attend the bi-monthly meetings held on the second Wednesday and posted on the web.

The PVTA is grateful for the support of the SLRD and VoP for these initiatives.

Jan Naylor, Membership Chair

PVTA

TB on the rise

As one of many organizations committed to helping eradicate the world of tuberculosis (TB), we are working this week to generate public awareness for March 24 th , World TB Day.

Every year, approximately 2 million people worldwide die from tuberculosis. It is estimated that 17,000 people in Canada are infected with active TB. Due to world travel, this deadly disease is on the rise. Left untreated, a person with active TB may infect 10-15 people each year.

Tuberculosis is spread like the common cold. When TB organisms attack the lungs and grow, they cause damage to the lungs. Often those with TB stop taking medication when they begin to feel better. Incomplete treatment of TB is worse than no treatment at all. Without proper treatment, the bacilli in an infected person's lungs may develop resistance to anti-TB drugs. Other people they infect will then have the same drug-resistant strain. While drug-resistant TB is treatable, it can take up to two years of extensive chemotherapy to rid the patient of the disease.

Over the 62 years of our existence, TB Vets has given $1.3 million in grants to researchers looking for a cure once and for all for tuberculosis. Already in 2008, we have committed $100,000 to TB researchers working at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia.

The Province of British Columbia recently proclaimed March 4, 2008 as “TB Vets Day.” This year, we educated over 150 students about tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments. We look forward to growing our education programs on a much wider scale for next year’s TB Vets Day.

For more information on TB Vets Charitable Foundation or to donate, please visit our website at www.tbvets.org.

Ron Goyette

Executive Director, TB Vets Charitable Foundation